To make room for Hinkie, and expedite their search for a new head coach, the Sixers have cut ties with general manager Tony DiLeo. According to a league source, DiLeo ­­— who had been with the organization for 23 seasons — will not remain with the Sixers in any capacity.

Hinkie comes to the Sixers on a multi-year contract believed to be at least three years, a league source said. Hinkie had worked with the Houston Rockets for the last four seasons as their vice president of basketball operations while serving as an advocate for analytics within the organization.

The Sixers are believed to have sought Hinkie last offseason before promoting DiLeo. They had to wait until Houston had been eliminated from the playoffs before initiating discussions with him, but negotiations proceeded quickly. Hinkie, according to a league source, was the Sixers’ “only target” for the general manager position.

The Sixers have been without a head coach since Doug Collins resigned April 18, the day after the team’s regular-season finale. It’s believed they have narrowed down a list of candidates to fill the post, but it seemed peculiar that they would allow DiLeo to lead the coaching search while his contract was set to expire July 1. And Sixers owner Josh Harris didn’t exactly give DiLeo a ringing endorsement during Harris’ end-of-the-year press conference.

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With Hinkie in place, the Sixers can move forward in their search. Harris has said he would like to have a coach in place by the June 27 NBA Draft. The reported list of favorites for the job, according to another league source, remain the same: Brian Shaw, Indiana’s associate head coach; Michael Curry, the Sixers’ associate head coach under Collins; Mike Malone, Golden State’s top assistant; and Jeff Hornacek, an assistant with Utah.

DiLeo, who did not return a call for comment, had been with the Sixers for the last 23 seasons. He had served as interim head coach, assistant general manager and vice president of basketball operations among other jobs, before assuming the GM duties last summer.

It was believed DiLeo had spent the season being groomed by outgoing Sixers president Rod Thorn, who would be transitioning into a consultant’s role with the team. Instead, DiLeo is out of a job.